Not Ousmane Dembele or Lamine Yamal, 2010 FIFA World Cup winner backs Kylian Mbappe for 2025 Ballon d'Or

Veteran defender Sergio Ramos has publicly backed Kylian Mbappe to win the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or, placing the French forward ahead of fellow contenders Ousmane Dembele and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. While acknowledging Mbappe’s lack of major team honors this season, the former Real Madrid and PSG star emphasized the striker’s extraordinary individual contributions.

Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappe shared the pitch at PSG

Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappe were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023. The Spanish centre-back, now playing for Monterrey in Mexico, shared a close professional bond with Mbappe before the forward’s high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. Though Ramos has moved continents, his admiration for Mbappe’s abilities remains strong.

Kylian Mbappe’s mixed debut season at Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe’s first season at Real Madrid began with challenges, despite early expectations. Although he helped secure the Spanish Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, his adaptation period was marked by inconsistent form. However, he found his rhythm in the second half of the campaign.

The 26-year-old closed the season with an astounding 43 goals in 56 appearances, claiming the European Golden Shoe with 31 La Liga goals. Nevertheless, his goal-scoring feats couldn’t prevent Real Madrid from a trophy-less end to the domestic season, as Barcelona clinched both the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey. Madrid’s Champions League defence also came to an abrupt end after a 5-1 aggregate loss to Arsenal in the quarterfinals.

Sergio Ramos on Kylian Mbappe: He Deserves It

Despite these team setbacks, Ramos remains firm in his belief that Mbappe should win the prestigious individual honour.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Ramos stated:

I will always give it to Mbappe. Not just out of friendship, but also because he has put in some impressive performances. It’s a decisive trophy, but you never know what the criteria are for the Ballon d’Or… He scores goals, won the Golden Boot, even though Madrid hasn’t won other titles that other teams have won.

His comments underline the often-debated nature of the Ballon d’Or selection criteria, which frequently oscillate between team success and individual brilliance.